Weekly I’ve been thinking a lot about Peter Kim George’s story this week on the line between consent and appropriation in documentary film. Focusing on Blue Bayou and Sabaya, George offers us these insights: The common thread here is the way a film’s intended mission can be ethically undermined by the conditions of its production. Who gets to speak for whom, and for whose story? Set Hernandez Rongkilyo and Jo Saen Ronquillo, members of the Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, told Hyperallergic that it’s important to be wary of “extractive storytelling” at a time when the business of putting minoritized identities onscreen is booming.When we watch the stories of others online, who do we trust to tell the stories? I suggest reading the whole thing. This week, museums in Vienna got creative after social media platforms wielded their heavy censorial hand and decided to join OnlyFans, researchers discovered a connection between a history of lynchings and the number of Confederate monuments in a US county, and did Judy Chicago troll her fans in San Francisco? — Hrag Vartanian, editor-in-chief Become a Member Fidelio at the San Francisco Opera (photo by Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera) SPONSORED NEWS THIS WEEK The now-removed statue of Robert E. Lee in Charlottesville, Virginia (Wikimedia Commons) Researchers discovered a correlation between historical lynchings and the number of local Confederate monuments. Five artists have withdrawn from this year’s Havana Biennial in solidarity with the hundreds imprisoned and persecuted by the Cuban regime. Austrian museums pivot to OnlyFans to evade social media censorship. Solange launches a free library of rare, out-of-print books by Black authors. The Creepy Doll Contest returns this year even creepier than ever. SPONSORED Significant financial support packages for highly qualified applicants come in the form of fellowships and graduate appointments, which include tuition waivers and stipends. Learn more. LATEST IN ART Installation view of Diane Simpson: Point of View at JTT, New York Her work conjures a world in which seeing something does not mean you can possess it. She commemorates the anonymous labor that went into many of the things that have inspired her, while making formally commanding and inventive artwork. SPONSORED New works by one of Bangladesh’s most prominent photojournalists, writers, and activists are on view at the Chicago art space through November 27. Learn more. Kim Schoenstadt: Enter Slowly, The Legacy of an Idea at the ArtCenter College of Design Though Schoenstadt can only communicate with Gray through archives, Enter Slowly restores the late architect’s legacy, transforming Gray from an outcast to a venerable icon. BEER WITH A PAINTER Janice Nowinski, “Bathers after Dürer” (2016), oil on canvas, 11 x 14 inches Jennifer Samet talks with artist Janice Nowinski about her career, expressive painting style, and the inspiration behind her latest works. I relate to Jackson Pollock asking Lee Krasner, “Is it a painting?” Sometimes work and territory are unfamiliar. I want to keep that edge in my work where it could almost not be a painting. ALSO ON HYPERALLERGIC From Blue Bayou (2021), dir. Justin Chon (courtesy Focus Features) Did Judy Chicago Just Troll Us? Smoked out, Larissa Archer questions the purpose and intentions of the artist's recent "Forever de Young" performance. How Landscape Became Doctrine in American Art Billy Anania reviews Tyler Green's book on Emerson's lasting influence and the glorification of colonized territories through landscape painting. Required Reading This week, the National Gallery of Art finally acquired a major work by Faith Ringgold, the director of The Velvet Underground talks film, North America's Hindu Nationalist problem, canceling legacy admissions, and more. Our membership program makes it possible for us to dive deeper into important issues and topics. Want to be part of the future of independent arts journalism? Become a Member COMICS Keep your friends close and your bad art friends closer. IN OUR STORE Tom of Finland Enamel Pin Look who we have here! One of Tom of Finland’s muscle-bound hunks has entered the chat. With long legs, a square jaw, and a leather outfit, this bad boy would make the perfect addition to your wardrobe. Face pix only not for you? We’ve got you covered with these spicy torsos. Become a Member |